OVER 13 YEARS UN’S WFP PROVIDES ASSISTANCE OF 75 MLN USD TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Since 1993 when the United Nations’
World Food Program (WFP) started operating in Armenia, it has made
a significant contribution to the community development through
investments aimed at improving the food provision to socially
vulnerable groups in Armenia, including refugees, and developing the
country’s infrastructures and human potential. The Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian stated this when receiving on August 2
the delegation headed by the WFP’s Executive Director James Morris.
According to the RA Government Information and PR Department,
the delegation is in Armenia within the framework of its regional
visit. A. Margarian said that the assistance provided by the WFP
before the first quarter of 2006 amounted to 75 mln USD in the form
of 134 thousand tons of humanitarian food, which was supplied to
200 thousand needy persons annually on average. The prime minister
considered it important that since mid 1999, the special assistance
programs were replaced with long-term assistance and restoration
programs. In case of some programs such as the food-for-work
project, the problem of temporary employment is solved, which is
also psychologically important for vulnerable groups. During the
meeting, the sides also spoke about the consequences of the drought
in some regions of Armenia. A. Margarian asked that if possible, some
assistance be provided to mitigate the drought’s consequences. James
Morris expressed his satisfaction over the process of WFP programs’
implementation in Armenia, noting that during the visit he went to Lori
and Tavush marzes to see the work being done there. Speaking about the
cooperation with the Armenian government, particularly with the WFP’s
partner – the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues, he considered
it as quite successful. J. Morris pointed out that he is impressed by
the Armenian government’s efforts aimed at economic growth and poverty
reduction and expressed a willingness to continue the cooperation to
make it more comprehensive and efficient in the coming years.
From: Baghdasarian